Our Show for 2017

The Christmas Revels Journey to America with hopeful Irish Emigrants at the turn of the Century

An eagerly awaited holiday tradition, the Christmas Revels returns with a show steeped in Irish music and tradition. Join us aboard the RMS Carpathia as we share the hopes and dreams of families seeking a better life in America. Bringing with them traditions of their homeland, these hardy souls engage us with foot-stomping jigs and reels, heart-pounding step dancing, and haunting harp music. Our spirited chorus of adults and children will capture your hearts and set the stage for the holidays!

Directed by Chad Boltz, this year’s Christmas Revels will draw you into the celebration with audience sing-alongs, the Mummer’s Play, and Lord of the Dance. Popular local Irish musicians and award-winning step dancers will round out our cast to set your blood pumping and your heart singing!

We return this year to the Dairy Arts Center’s Gordon Gamm Theater where their fabulous renovation of the main theater and lobby is spacious and easily accessible to families and the mobility impaired.

Join us again in The Lord of the Dance! We’ll sing carols and rounds together, both ancient and familiar.

In response to last year’s Sold Out performances, this year we have added two additional performances on Dec. 26 and 27,
Tickets are available through the Dairy Center box office.

Friday, December 22 at 7 pm
Saturday, December 23 2:00 and 7:00 pm
Tuesday, December 26 2:00 pm
Wednesday, December 27 7:00 pm
Arrive 45 minutes early to hear a pre-show talk giving some background of the show script and music.

The show program contains many notes about the various parts of the show. If you would like to look this over in advance,
you can download a copy here.

What is Revels?

In Cambridge Mass in 1971, John Langstaff founded Revels, Inc., to link the music, dances, and seasonal rituals
from an older world to a modern world that needs them.

Revels celebrates the seasons and cycles of human life through the arts, the songs and dances, and the stories from
traditional cultures. Audiences recognize the events, desires, and dilemmas from another place and time as their own.
The Christmas Revels welcomes the return of the light.

Learn More...

Who is Rocky Mountain Revels?

Founded in 2000, Rocky Mountain Revels is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting public
education, understanding, and appreciation of traditional music, dance, drama, and ritual through participatory
theater and communal celebration.

Learn More...

We Need Your Help!

The annual Christmas Revels show provides joy and celebration to our large community cast and all who fill
the seats in the Gordon Gamm Theater at the Dairy Center. We welcome your financial support — any amount
makes an enormous difference — and we look forward to seeing you in December. Thanks!

The Word on the Street

Revels has been a very fun tradition in our family starting with 'Feast of Fools' (in the 1990s).
We've been seeing Revels routinely since, including introducing our daughter. Keep on doing what
you're doing.

Love the history of traditions, group songs, fun play, and gorgeous costumes.

The fresh theme each year! The CHILDREN! The JOY! Just keep doing this each year.

I love the Revels; it always marks this part of the year with joy and celebration.

I like how it's different every year but has common elements that come back.

I love how you have the audience participate and become part of the show!

The Shortest Day

by Susan Cooper

And so the shortest day came and the year died.
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow white world
Came people dancing, singing, to drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees.
They hung their homes with evergreen.
They burned beseeching fires, all night long, to keep the year alive.

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake they shouted, Reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us. Listen!
All the long echoes sing the same delight this shortest day.
As promise wakens in the sleeping land.
They carol, feast, give thanks, and dearly love their friends.
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS PRESENT VARIETY
Our productions range from medieval and renaissance themes to Celtic and Scottish to visits to the American experience such as
Appalachian and Pioneer. We have wonderful guest artists each year.
Come join us!

We need your help! Ticket sales only pay for half of our production costs, and times are tight for everyone in the arts.
Would you like to make a donation to help us celebrate The Shortest Day with a brand-new Christmas Revels Show each year?